Fans of the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks watch their teams play during the third period of the Winter Classic outdoor NHL hockey game at Nationals Park in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. The Capitals won 3-2. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

When the Minnesota Wild first asked the NHL to host an outdoor game, they were told the franchise wasn’t ready.

There was a list of things the Wild needed to do before they could host one of the NHL’s marquee regular-season events.

They needed star players. They needed a playoff run. And they needed to be more nationally known.

In recent years, the Wild signed U.S. Olympic team captain Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Thomas Vanek, and they traded for Jason Pominville.

They’ve made the playoffs the past two seasons and won a playoff series a year ago.

“Frankly, we have checked off all the different marks that we have to in order to be a complete package for the league,” Wild owner Craig Leipold said.

And yet, Minnesota — the self-proclaimed State of Hockey, which produces more NHL players than any other in the U.S. — has not been a part of any of the league’s 14 outdoor games. While Chicago, New York City and California have been selected to host two outdoor games, Minnesota remains without one.

But there’s reason to believe that the state’s absence from outdoor NHL hockey is about to end.

The team is in prime position to host an outdoor game next season in a so-called Stadium Series game. An official announcement could come as soon as next weekend’s NHL All-Star Game.

“I would say very confidently that in the next two seasons we will have an outdoor game,” Leipold said. “Very confidently.”

The Wild have been close before.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman toured TCF Bank Stadium and Target Field with Leipold last March and approved both as possible venues. But the NHL selected the San Jose Sharks to host this season’s Stadium Series game. The Sharks will play host to the Los Angeles Kings in February in the NHL’s 15th outdoor game.

Perhaps as a consolation, the Wild had the opportunity to play as the visiting team in this season’s Winter Classic held in Washington, D.C. The Wild declined, telling the league their only interest is in hosting an outdoor game.

“We are not willing to be a visiting team,” Leipold said. “We have had that conversation, and we’ve made it clear. We are doing this really for our market.”

The NHL hosts outdoor games under three brands.

The annual Winter Classic, played Jan. 1, is the most prestigious and often comes with a behind-the-scenes television show. There also are Stadium Series games, held in American cities, and Heritage Classic games, held in Canada.

The Wild want to host a Winter Classic.

But next season’s Winter Classic likely will be hosted by the Boston Bruins — for the second time in eight years — so the Wild say they would be willing to host a Stadium Series game with the understanding that a future Winter Classic game here is still in play.

“If a Stadium Series game helps us accomplish that, we’re all in,” Leipold said.

During Bettman’s March visit, he stressed that Minnesota would be a good fit for an outdoor game.

“Absolutely,” he said. “The fans, the hockey environment, the weather. … This is the State of Hockey, after all.”

And yet, the State of Hockey was passed over for the Stadium Series this year for Santa Clara, Calif. Bettman’s office declined comment for this story, saying there’s nothing new to report since the commissioner’s last comments on the topic.

Leipold, though, said he brings it up in just about every conversation the two have.

“If that were any exaggeration, it wouldn’t be by much,” Bettman said in March. “We talk on a regular basis, and somehow it manages to come up in almost every conversation.”

Said Leipold: “Gary is completely with us in this. Everything has to come together to make it work, and I think we’re there. I would expect in the near future that we will get it.”

That could very well mean a Stadium Series game in January or February 2016, most likely at Target Field against the Dallas Stars, though Leipold declined to confirm or deny the opponent or venue. He has told the league how he would like to see the game set up.

“We have a preference,” Leipold said of the opponent. “We have indicated what our preference is to the league, and they understand who we want and they understand the reasons. And I think it’s fair to say they agree with them.”

After overlooking Minnesota since NHL outdoor games began regularly seven years ago, it seems the Wild and NHL finally agree that the state deserves an outdoor game.

“They want us to play in a game badly,” Wild COO Matt Majka said. “I think it’s now very mutual.”

Chad Graff joined the Pioneer Press in April of 2013 -- long enough to cover three straight Wild playoff exits at the hands of the Blackhawks -- after working for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Boston Globe. He's lived in California and Texas, but most recently spent a decade in New Hampshire. He watched New England fans celebrate seven championships in his time there, yet somehow his only sports allegiance lies with Nebraska football.

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